Martha J. B. Thomas

Martha Jane Bergin was born in West Roxbury, Boston, on 13 March 1926 to Augusta and John Bergin.^[1][2][3] As a child she attended Girls Latin School.^[3][4] She graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1945 with a Bachelor of Science degree, after which she obtained a PhD in chemistry from Boston University (Sigma Xi) in 1953, while working at Sylvania Electric Products.^[3][5][6] Later in life, she received an MBA at Boston's Northeastern University in 1983.^[7]

Thomas began her professional career in 1945 at Sylvania Electric Products, later GTE Sylvania, where she became the head of the Phosphor Research and Development Section in 1970. During her time at Sylvania she established their first phosphor pilot plants. She was a director of technical services at GTE Electrical Products Group in Danvers, Massachusetts, US, working for the company for over four decades. During that time she made "23 official improvements in lightbulbs".^[2][4]

Thomas held 22 U.S. patents and 13 foreign patents for improving lighting technology and manufacturing, covering, for example, fluorescent lamps and phosphor chemistry.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} One significant contribution was the development of a white phosphorus powder coating for fluorescent tubes creating a much more daylight-like light.^[13] She also developed a phosphor-based treatment that increased the brightness of mercury lamps by 10%.^[14]

GTE Sylvania was a pioneer in early color television when the first commercially viable models debuted. Thomas's patent US3668140, a Process for Yttrium Orthovanadate Phosphors, showed that her research with phosphors extended beyond lightening and contributed to GTE Sylvania's 1964 color television which used an Europium Yttrium phosphor to improve the color red.^[9]

Thomas was an adjunct professor of chemistry at Boston University between 1952 and 1970. She was also an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island from 1974 - 1978.^[6][15]

Thomas was an active member in the American Chemical Society, holding several officer positions in her local section. She was a director of the American Institute of Chemists and published papers as a member of the Electrochemical Society. She was an active member and officer of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), joining in 1951 during the organizations founding days. She was the Boston Section President. ^[2][6]

In 1965, Thomas was awarded the Achievement Award of the Society of Women Engineers in recognition of her significant contributions to the science of chemistry as an engineer, educator, and administrator, while fulfilling her duties as a wife and mother.^[16][17][18]

In 1966, she received the Golden Plate Award as "Woman Engineer of the Year" in the category of Science and Exploration. Thomas is also listed in the American Men and Women of Science, making the list before 1971 when it was still called American Men of Science.^[6]

In 1969, Thomas was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists.^[6]

In 1983, she was the recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award from Boston University.^[19]

In 1991 she was named the New England Inventor by the Museum of Science in Boston, an award given to individuals whose application of science and technology, creativity, and independent thought has positively impacted society.^[2][7]